Top Ten Ways to Be Smart About Love
Feature Editors:
Lachele Fernandes, 17
Shaquillia Meadows, 15
Massachusetts
Love is a two-way street.
It only works when the two people in the relationship meet each other halfway. This means a 50/50 partnership, not 25/75 or 60/40!" Each person must do his or her part in keeping the love alive and the relationship strong.
Here are Top Ten ways to help YOU be smart about L-O-V-E!
10. Don't get caught up in the way a person presents him or herself. Listen to your gut. You have good judgment--don't be afraid to use it!
9. Never settle for less than what you deserve. Your standards are high because you are worth it. If you feel that you are a 10 find someone who is a 10 (or at least a 9!).
8. Don't necessarily believe what people outside of your relationship say about YOUR relationship. People gossip—and what they say might not be true and may hurt your relationship in the end.
7. Money can't buy love. Gifts can be nice at times, but don't be blinded by the bling. If it's love, material things shouldn't substitute for affection.
6. Use PROTECTION! You may love your significant other, but you should love your body even more. Did you know that more than three million teens aged 15-19 are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) each year?
5. Don't let a person take advantage of your love. If he or she loves you, then that person should respect you physically and mentally.
4. Be self-sufficient. Don't depend on the relationship to boost your confidence. This way, if forever is shorter than you expected, you will still have you.
3. Don't put more into a relationship then you get out. If you feel that you are "Doing Too Much," like singer Paula DeAnda says, you probably are.
2. Never mistake violence for love. If a person raises his or her hand to you, that's not love. Don't go back for more.
1. Don't expect love to be EASY! Be prepared for hardships, heartbreaks and maybe a few tears. But know that love is a learning process that will carry you throughout life.
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I'm a sixteen-year-old girl (turning seventeen) living in South-east Asia and I think I've fallen for a guy. Is it abnormal for sixteen-year-olds to develop feelings more than crushing towards someone? Am I a freak?
Personlaly, I don't think so. I mean, you are human, and that's what love does anyways. Well, sorry. Let me rephrase that. That's what liking does. But loving someone does more. So, it really depends on how you think about it and interpret it. No, you are not a freak. You are in the sanest mind ever. Don't worry. ^^
i def agreee with number 8!!!! i hate wen people tell you things about your man or girl, just because they are jelous. i think that its very important to trust who your with and if you have an issue about the things people tell you, let youtr partner know so yall can work it out.
I think that this top 10 list is a really good way for anyone including myself to use in order to evaluate relationships. After reading the list, there were atleast 2 things that I could have done differently.
Another tip? Don't get married too young! I read this article on gURL.com - http://www.gurl.com/showoff/spotlight/too_young_to_marry/1/ - and it made me think that having more relationships and getting more experience is better than settling down too early.
This article is so cute and true at the same time. Girls today just throw themselves into relationships without knowing what their doing!
I agree with number 3 because alot of times i find myself doing WAAAAY too much. when talking to a boy it should be equal and i hate when im the only one thats making the effort. guys need to be put to work too, not just us...i agree with tip number 5 the most...i know alot of girls that would do anything, and i mean ANYTHING to get a guy to like them or stay with them. to me, it shows how much a girl values herself by the things she'll do to get attention. what they dont know is that if a guy really likes you, he'll like you for you and you shouldnt have to do something you dont want to please them.
What is LOVE? What does being in LOVE feel like? Relationships can be very complicated and they also require a lot of effort to make them work. Many times it is easy to be caught up in love and the emotions of being in a relationship. True love is when you love and care for your partner more then your own desires. Love is special. Love is a gift from God.
LOVE is something that we all need and you have others who want. love isnt something that is easy, it is more of a process that we all go trhough, at times i see it as testing a strength on how we can love and be loved. you may love and give your all but at the end of the day you need to still love yourself and know that no matter what love is hard to find but if it had find you once it will find you again.
Love measures not only affection but commitment. You're 16, Jo, are you ready to commit?
I totally agree with number 5
i STRONGLY agree with all the top 10. But number two and three are my favorite !
I might say wait for the right time and the right partner. being young often makes wrong decisions. be patient.
i agree with you all !!! Anywho how yall doing , im borde at school
Hey,these tips are very helpful. I'm in a relationship myself and I have too be protective about that stuff. As long as I am very careful about what I do,i'll be just fine !
If ANY couple wpuld want to stay together they WILL follow this tips and read this book. Always believe in love at first sight! NEVER do love until you're OLD enough!
I love this piece and I feel as if alot of conflicts would be avoided if teen girls knew most of these.
i feel as if this article is telling you not to fall in love to quick because if yu do you will get hurt
This Is So Helpful Like Girl Always Forget About A Good Amount Of This Stuff When It Comes To Relationships
I think a lot of girls will understand more about love from this these tips because I definitely have. Love is a difficult topic to understand in a relationship because girls tend to do too much, or stay in a abusive relationship because they are in love. This help me understand that it depends on what the hardships are and what bring tears because girls get confused and tend to give the guy more of the power and control. Overall, this was really helpful, thank you teen voices
i like those comments i should come on here more offten
Adolescent Bravado is my short film about teens please review this short film and leave a comment.
http://youtu.be/rxPyh0jAxH8
Great post and really good ideas. I like this article and also the comments
7 is really true...
I love all these! They really do sum up the way a relationship should be. I just wish ALL teen girls knew this!
I somewhat agree, however I don't think love or loving someone should have rules though. Love is an emotion that doesn't have an accurate meaning. What about loving YOURSELF first?